The Italians are celebrating advancing to the EURO semifinals.
Matthias Schrader, ČTK / AP
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“He didn’t deserve this. He was one of our best players in the tournament, and even if he doesn’t play the next matches, he will continue to do so for us. We’re very sad. What happened to him looks very serious,” Mancini told a news conference. “It’s a big loss for us. We’ll try to get through it all just because of him,” Reuters quoted striker Lorenzo Insigne as saying.
His goal to 2: 0 in the 44th minute was the decisive shot of the Italian team, which advanced to the semifinals of the European Championships for the first time in nine years. Although the Belgians reduced Romelu Lukaku’s penalty until the break thanks to the converted penalty, the team from the Apennine Peninsula managed to dull their pressure in the second part with activity or later with a fragmented game.
Spain managed a penalty shootout and is in the EURO semifinals
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“I think I really enjoy football now. I’ve never played with such a smile on my face as I do now. It’s like going to play with friends when I’m home during the week. I think everyone plays so relaxed and that’s our secret,” he said. Insignia. His shot was the 90th Italian goal scored under coach Mancini. “I’m happy that the ball fell in. It was a great goal, but the main thing is that we won,” said the offensive player of Naples.
The triumph was duly celebrated by the Italian media. Gazzetta dello Sport wrote about “wonderful Italy”, Corriere dello Sport described the evening against Belgium as “magical.” The Italians did not lose on the international stage in the 32nd match in a row, thus improving their own maximum. The Belgians defeated in the fourth of the last five mutual duels and won the 15th game in a row at the European Championships, including qualifying, thus setting a new record.
“It was a well-deserved win. The boys were perfect in the match. It was only the last ten minutes that we started to be more passive because we were tired, but otherwise we controlled the game and we could easily have scored more goals,” said Mancini.
The Italians struck twice in the first half, not allowing the Belgians to equalize
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In the next phase, the Italians will face Spain on July 6, which eliminated Switzerland after penalties. It will be a repeat of the last eight finals of the European Championships, when “Sqaudra Azzura” won 2: 0 five years ago. At the same time, however, it is the only Italian triumph in the last eight mutual matches.
“We have to keep up with these performances. We haven’t been able to do anything yet. We need to mobilize forces for this conclusion, keep our heads down and keep beating,” Insigne said, and Mancini added. We still have a long way to go, but this time we will enjoy this win for a while longer. “
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